What does this research mean for the field?

Multi-level barriers to HIV prevention among people who use stimulants are best addressed through syndemic-focused programming that integrates psycho-behavioral interventions, contingency management, and case management. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

To identify multilevel barriers and facilitators of HIV prevention and assess feedback on coping-focused psycho-behavioral intervention strategies among individuals who use stimulants.

August 24, 2026AIDS Patient Care and STDsOpen Access

“I Just Need Guidance Through This Maze I’m Going Through”: Addressing Unmet Basic and Mental Health Needs to Facilitate Engagement in HIV Prevention Services in the Context of Stimulant Use

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Authors

JFJacklyn D. FoleyBoston University KMKenneth H. MayerHarvard University SISurabhi IyerUniversity of Massachusetts Chan Medical School

Discussion

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals multilevel barriers and coping needs for HIV prevention among stimulant users, highlighting the necessity of integrated, syndemic-focused psycho-behavioral interventions.

Key Points

To identify multilevel barriers and facilitators of HIV prevention and assess feedback on coping-focused psycho-behavioral intervention strategies among individuals who use stimulants.
Guided by the EPIS framework, in-depth qualitative interviews were conducted with N=32 individuals who use stimulants and have unmet structural needs (mean age 48 years [SD=10.8], 46.9% men, 62.5% White, 50.0% with ≤high school education).
Thematic content analysis was utilized to evaluate barriers, facilitators, and feedback on evidence-based intervention content targeting emotion- and problem-focused coping.
HIV prevention engagement was shaped by multilevel factors across individual (knowledge, motivation), interpersonal (provider relationships), and structural (access, cost) domains.
Participants perceived coping skills for psychosocial distress and problem-solving navigation for social services as critical facilitators.
Optimal intervention delivery was recommended within a syndemic-focused model combining contingency management, substance-free social activities, and case management.

Cite This Study

Foley et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8c009fbca056c88e6df774 https://doi.org/10.1177/10872914261478191

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Implication

Qualitative study reveals multilevel barriers and coping needs for HIV prevention among stimulant users, highlighting the necessity of integrated, syndemic-focused psycho-behavioral interventions.

“I Just Need Guidance Through This Maze I’m Going Through”: Addressing Unmet Basic and Mental Health Needs to Facilitate Engagement in HIV Prevention Services in the Context of Stimulant Use

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

“I Just Need Guidance Through This Maze I’m Going Through”: Addressing Unmet Basic and Mental Health Needs to Facilitate Engagement in HIV Prevention Services in the Context of Stimulant Use

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Cite This Study

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